Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-03-03
TWO CASES.

Not Consider.
Three citizens of Texas, or three
men claiming to be such, appeared at
Washington not long since with a har-
rowing tale of political outrage where
Of they were the victims. They asked
that the Senate investigate the case
and that body by strict party vote
has decided to do SO. Tho story was
practically unsupported so far
IS each of the three men supported the
Dther two. 1t was very suspiciously like
\ number of stories which have come
from the South at times when the Repub-
tcan party was in need of fuel to fire the
partisan hearts and keep the rank and
hle from falling into a condition of
confidence in the South. Moreover, if
the story was true it furnished no basis
for Senatorial or Federal action. 1t
might turn. out in every line and word
and detail exactly as narrated. and it
would still be as purely case for the
tribunals and authorities of Texas as
the horrible outrages in the north
woods of Michigan and Wisconsin are
Eases for the tribunals and authorities
of those States. The Senate can do
absolutely nothing in the premises un-
less it be to make, or attempt to make,
political capital for the Republican
party. It can not punish the offenders
DIT even compel the State of Texas to do
1t. Yet it has resolved to investigate
the charges, and the Tribune of this
rity applauds the resolution and urges
dhe Investigation with the utmost en-
thusiasm.
SEINE days before the alleged citizens
Of Texas made their appearance at
Washington with their outrage budget
poor widow in this city gave to the
public an account of the suffering her
husband, who had just died at the Sol
hiers' Home in Grand Rapids, had I'M
ilergone in that institution. 1t would
have been sad and pathetic tale if the
sufferer had been a pauper in the coun-
ty house, or even a convict in one of
our prisons. Told, as it was, of gal
liant soldier who had been taken in
charge by the great State of Michigan
, to protect and care for in home
which the generous bounty of the peo-
pie had provided, it was tale calcu-
lated to make the blood boil in the
veins of every patriotic citizen. TWAS
followed by other tales from inmates
of the same institution. all freighted
with the same burden of mismanage-
ment, neglect and consequent suffer-
ing. Those who should have been the
welcome and honored guest of the
State in real home, with the care and
the comfort that sacred name implies,
were represented as finding the place
a .'mockery of a home" and .'hell."
Naturally an indignant cry went up
for Investigation of the alleged abuses
and for a speedy remedy; and the
Legislature was at once appealed to.
There was nothing partisan in the cry.
The charges were not made by citizens
'0f distant State. And the appeal was |
To a body which has full jurisdiction to |
examine and full power to cure the |
abuses, if any are found. 1t was |
stronger case in its appeal to humanity |
and in the evidence by which it was
supported than the Texas case; and it |
was presented, as the latter was not, to |
n perfectly proper tribunal. But the |
petty party organ saw no merit in the |
ease. The wall of the stricken widow
and the appeal of the suffering soldier
we're 'sinsinuatiOns" which deserved
no attention from the Legislature or
anybody else. The management of the
Soldiers Home was too great and wise
and generous and good to be even sus-
pected of any thing; and it was only
when a member of it's own party with
"a manly consciousness of the disgrace
the State would incur if the whitewash-
ing policy were pursued moved for an
Investigation that this petty partisan
organ abandoned its opposition and
grudgingly joined in the demand. 1t
had sharp eyes for alleged outrages in
far-off Texas; it had crocodile tears to
shed over alleged wrongs committed
there; and it was exceedingly prompt
in its demand for an Investigation
when there was the. faintest prospect
that its party could make political cap
ital, though there was no possibility
that any wrong could be redressed But
it had no eyes or tears to moisten them
when the alleged sufferers are its own
fellow-citizeHs in whose kind and gem
erous treatment the whole State was
Interested. 1t could not even see its
way clear to asking for an inquiry into
the matter until the resolution offered
3y a member of its own party satisfied
it that the partisan whitewash brush
could no longer be welded with safety.
There is n good deal of this ''Mrs.
Jeliaby" business of straining the sight
so in looking after the far-of suffering
that the eyes are blinded to the misery
close at hand. And it is all the more
contemplate business when the ignor-
ing of the suffering and misery near at
hand is deliberate, as it has been in the
Iribune's dealing with the Soldiers
Home matter. Detroit Free Press.